GDT Game 55: 2/12/19 | 7:00 PM CT | vs Devils | FSMW/KMOX

[theohall]

Vladimir Tarasenko's elevated play has the red-hot St. Louis Blues rapidly moving up in the standings.

Tarasenko looks to extend his point streak to a career-high nine games when the Blues bid for their season-best seventh straight victory on Tuesday against the visiting New Jersey Devils.

The 27-year-old Russian completed his fourth career regular-season hat trick by scoring 16 seconds into overtime on Sunday as St. Louis capped a home-and-home sweep of Nashville with a 5-4 win. The goal was Tarasenko's team-best 22nd of the season and 200th of his career.

"Every game is like a playoff game," Tarasenko said, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Just try to go for 100 percent and play for every win. ... It's really emotional. It's a big two points for us.

"It's time to step up for all our leaders and everybody else in this locker room. We want to get in the playoffs, so that's what we're playing for."

Tarasenko has stepped up with seven goals and five assists during his point streak for the Blues, who have benefited from a 10-2-1 stretch to move within two points of third-place Dallas in the Central Division.

"Pretty impressive," captain Alex Pietrangelo told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of Tarasenko's overtime goal on Sunday. "I think we all had a feeling there in overtime when he gets that move outside-in, you're not stopping him. We're going to need him to keep doing that. He's on a roll."

Tarasenko hasn't spared the Devils, either. He has 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in nine career encounters, with two goals and two assists coming in St. Louis' two-game season sweep in 2017-18.

Rookie Jordan Binnington likely will get the nod on Tuesday, one day after being named the NHL's First Star of the Week after posting a 3-0-0 mark with one shutout, a 1.31 goals-against average and .954 save percentage. The 25-year-old owns a 9-1-1 record with a 1.72 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in 13 appearances this season.

Ryan O'Reilly set up two goals versus the Predators on Sunday to boost his team-leading totals in assists (35) and points (55). The 28-year-old O'Reilly has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his past 11 games.

New Jersey salvaged the finale of a four-game homestand with a 3-2 win over Carolina on Sunday to create a bit of momentum heading into a three-game road trip. The Devils, however, are tied with Ottawa for the fewest wins on the road this season with seven.

Marcus Johansson scored twice, and former top overall pick Nico Hischier recorded three assists versus the Hurricanes.

"In the end, it's the win that counts," the 20-year-old Hischier said. "Everyone who is in the lineup has energy and wants to play well and wants to battle hard."

Hischier has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his last six contests overall. He also scored in New Jersey's 3-2 shootout loss in St. Louis on Jan. 2, 2018.

Keith Kinkaid was in net for that contest, falling to 0-3-1 with a 3.42 goals-against average and .891 save percentage in four career appearances against the Blues.

Kinkaid turned aside 33 shots on Sunday to collect his second win in his last eight outings.

Jesper Bratt has one goal and three assists during a four-game point streak for the Devils.

[WaukeeBlues]

Vancouver with a big loss yesterday to the Sharks gives the Blues three games in hand on them as the nearest playoff competitor at 57 points. Avalanche and others behind them at 55 and counting. As we all know, that can close in a heartbeat. I hope Boston kicks the crap out of the Blackhawks tonight.

Need to keep winning. Blues are about to catch up on the "games in hand" issue: back to back's in each of the next three weekends. Makes these weekday games where the boys get a pivotal day off to rest a little bit all that much more important. Need to take care of business tonight.

Blues 3
Devils 1

[glen a richter]

Everyone needs to just keep doing what they're doing.

Blues 4
Devils 0

[Robb_K]

Blues skating hard already. O'Reilly's drive on goal draws a penalty on the first possession! Let's open the scoring quickly!

[Robb_K]

Pietrangelo buries a bomb from the point!!!! Blues lead 1-0!!!

Seconds later, Barbashev bats in the loose puck, in the crease!!! Blues lead 2-0!!!

[ibldbl]

Holy crap! Did Schwartz just get the dinosaur off his back?

[Robb_K]

Schwartz finally scores a goal!! Off of Zacha's skate!!! Blues lead 3-1!!! This is what comes from making an effort to get more pucks to the net.

[Robb_K]

Good 1st Period for The Blues! They really took the play to The Devils. Only one costly careless loss of possession marred an almost perfect period. It looked like a shooting gallery. If Parayko keeps sending those bombs, The Blues will score a lot more (either directly in or on rebounds, now that they have linemates going to the net).

[Robb_K]

O'Reilly scores on a fine steal by Tarasenko and feed by Schenn!!! Blues lead 4-1!!!!

[Robb_K]

Schwartz scores again!!! Bats in the rebound. No!!! Goaltender interference.

[Robb_K]

MacEachern scores on a breakaway on a stretch pass. Top corner! Goal-scorer's goal!!! 5-1 Blues.

[glen a richter]

I never took MacEachern for a goal scorer but he’s fitting in great in Berube’s system.

[Robb_K]

Bozak scores!!! Blues lead 6-1!!!!

[Robb_K]

Great 2nd Period for The Blues. They're taking the play to The Devils. Easy to see that The Devils have no legs. I don't know if they are just tired, or demoralised. Probably a little of both.

[crazyhorse]

How many towels did he bring tonight?

[JCShutout]

Damn Blues. Get it done.

[Robb_K]

Nice backhander for the goal by Pietrangelo! The Blues lead 7-1!!! Pietrangelo driving to the net with teammates having the puck creates chances. That's what The Blues need to create scoring that wouldn't occur otherwise. Blues might score 10 tonight!!

[Robb_K]

Barbashev knocks in the rebound!! Blues score shorthanded! They lead 8-2!!! Barbashev's 2nd of the night!!!

[ibldbl]

It sure is fun when they are playing like this. :D

[theohall]

That is what a playoff team is supposed to do against a struggling non-playoff team.